A Liverpool arts director has described her sense of pride as she takes on the tremendous task of bringing the story of the Windrush generation to the national stage.
Victoria Evaristo, from Toxteth, is the stage director and narrator for Windrush - The Journey, a concert tour celebrating the pioneering members of the Caribbean community who travelled to Britain after 1948, rescuing the country's struggling workforce from severe labour shortages in the wake of WWII. The show, which opens in Liverpool in June, features classical music and opera from Black composers (including Mozart contemporary Chevalier de Saint George), as well as Caribbean-inspired jazz and blues.
Victoria said: "I was born and raised in Liverpool, so this is a great opportunity. Like most Black people in Liverpool I have mixed heritage, and that is my background. But this Windrush concert is about connecting with all communities in different parts of the country, and celebrating the work of Black musicians.
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"Our ethos is harmony in diversity, and we want to keep alive the work of composers - Black composers in this instance. Opera is seen as a white elitist artform. What we are doing is challenging that stereotype by promoting the work of the global majority. It is seen as elitist, but we hope to challenge that."
Also forming part of the show is the Windrush Travelling Songbook, a digital archive of original music written by children inspired by the stories of the Windrush generation.
Victoria said: "It's about paying homage and celebrating the legacy of the Windrush generation. We're now in 2024. That generation are our grandparents and great-grandparents. It's about recognising their contribution to the UK, because that generation is not going to be here forever.
"The Windrush generation have paved the way for the society we see today, particularly the Caribbeans of our community. They worked hard and they had to build this country after the war. Whether they were driving the buses or working for the NHS, they have helped to build this country.
"That's why we are doing what we are doing: to keep their stories alive through classical music. Even if you're new to classical music you cannot fail to be moved, to be uplifted, and to have a feeling of joy, and to be entertained. I think its going to be a wonderful show."
Artistic director Alison Buchanan said: "Our Windrush concert, exhibition and workshops are not merely a celebration of history, but a call to action for inclusivity and representation in the arts. By amplifying the voices of Black classical composers and honouring the resilience of the Windrush generation, we aim to inspire a new era of diversity and excellence in classical music."
Windrush - The Journey, organised by the Pegasus Opera Company and funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, will open at The Tung Auditorium in Liverpool on May 31. Tickets can be purchased on the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic website.
